A2 or A5 magnet PAF's for 335?
- Thread starter RobBozic
- Start date
Re: A2 or A5 magnet PAF's for 335?
Both can sound great... it all depends on what's your set-up and what type of tone you're after....
Personnaly, I'm just really lovin' the tone I get out of my 335 with '59s (A5) in it through my JCM800... so personnaly, I just really like the tone of A5 mags in a '335...
Hope this helps a little...
Both can sound great... it all depends on what's your set-up and what type of tone you're after....
Personnaly, I'm just really lovin' the tone I get out of my 335 with '59s (A5) in it through my JCM800... so personnaly, I just really like the tone of A5 mags in a '335...
Hope this helps a little...
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: A2 or A5 magnet PAF's for 335?
I'd go with A5's, but that's my taste. They sound nice and natural, whereas A2 sounds a little more plucky and boxy. I'd go for a nickel covered 59 set. If you're ambitious with wiring, it would be cool to buy 4 lead pickups and get push/pull or push/push tone knobs to split the coils.
I'd go with A5's, but that's my taste. They sound nice and natural, whereas A2 sounds a little more plucky and boxy. I'd go for a nickel covered 59 set. If you're ambitious with wiring, it would be cool to buy 4 lead pickups and get push/pull or push/push tone knobs to split the coils.
viewaskew2k5
New member
Re: A2 or A5 magnet PAF's for 335?
i'm thinking of doing the same thing. a2 in the neck, and Custom Custom in the bridge?
i'm thinking of doing the same thing. a2 in the neck, and Custom Custom in the bridge?
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: A2 or A5 magnet PAF's for 335?
I prefer alnico 2 in a semi hollowbody too. The bass response seems a little more under control and the overall tone is less boomy. I use a Seth and a Custom Custom in my semi hollowbody. Alnico 2 Pros, Seth Lovers or Antiquitys would be my recomendation and if you want a hot bridge pickup I love the Custom Custom. Plenty of players use/used alnico 5 though on classic recordings: BB King, Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, etc. It's all good! Lew
I prefer alnico 2 in a semi hollowbody too. The bass response seems a little more under control and the overall tone is less boomy. I use a Seth and a Custom Custom in my semi hollowbody. Alnico 2 Pros, Seth Lovers or Antiquitys would be my recomendation and if you want a hot bridge pickup I love the Custom Custom. Plenty of players use/used alnico 5 though on classic recordings: BB King, Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, etc. It's all good! Lew
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: A2 or A5 magnet PAF's for 335?
Either one could sound great -- but it all depends on the individual nature of the guitar, the type (guage) of strings you use, your playing technique, and -- last but not least -- the sound you're looking for.
In my experience, the average 335 tends to have plenty of lows and low mids. If your 335 is pretty typical that way, then Alnico 2 is probably plenty and will sound great. A5 pickups could make it sound a little boomy or even muddy.
But that's just a rule of thumb because every piece of wood is different. I would just try swapping magnets in the pickups you already have in there (I assume they are 57 Classics?) so you don't blow $150+ on a new set of pickups and find out you don't like 'em.
And don't assume you're going to want it all one way or the other -- chances are you'll find Alnico 2 is plenty for the neck but A5 gives you the honk and bark in the bridge pu that you're looking for to get some louder, ruder classic rock tones.
As an example, I have a 355, which, for those who don't know, is a 335 with LP Custom appointments (multi-ply body binding, ebony fingerboard, block inlays, bound headstock, etc.). This particular member of the 335 family is unusually bright with Telecaster bite -- sounds more like a 336. The ebony fingerboard and thin neck probably have a lot to do with that.
Anyway, it was in need of some extra low-mid woof, so I put a Seth Lover and a CC in it, but I put an Alnico 5 in the Seth and an Alnico 3 in the CC (making it a C3). It's working pretty well, though I think I'm going to get some high-grade 250k pots all around to tame that treble just a little bit more.
BOTTOM LINE: Experiment with changing just the magnets first so you can get a feel for the difference in tone different mags give you.
Either one could sound great -- but it all depends on the individual nature of the guitar, the type (guage) of strings you use, your playing technique, and -- last but not least -- the sound you're looking for.
In my experience, the average 335 tends to have plenty of lows and low mids. If your 335 is pretty typical that way, then Alnico 2 is probably plenty and will sound great. A5 pickups could make it sound a little boomy or even muddy.
But that's just a rule of thumb because every piece of wood is different. I would just try swapping magnets in the pickups you already have in there (I assume they are 57 Classics?) so you don't blow $150+ on a new set of pickups and find out you don't like 'em.
And don't assume you're going to want it all one way or the other -- chances are you'll find Alnico 2 is plenty for the neck but A5 gives you the honk and bark in the bridge pu that you're looking for to get some louder, ruder classic rock tones.
As an example, I have a 355, which, for those who don't know, is a 335 with LP Custom appointments (multi-ply body binding, ebony fingerboard, block inlays, bound headstock, etc.). This particular member of the 335 family is unusually bright with Telecaster bite -- sounds more like a 336. The ebony fingerboard and thin neck probably have a lot to do with that.
Anyway, it was in need of some extra low-mid woof, so I put a Seth Lover and a CC in it, but I put an Alnico 5 in the Seth and an Alnico 3 in the CC (making it a C3). It's working pretty well, though I think I'm going to get some high-grade 250k pots all around to tame that treble just a little bit more.
BOTTOM LINE: Experiment with changing just the magnets first so you can get a feel for the difference in tone different mags give you.
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